Today I went to a local pet store and was looking at the scorpions when I noticed that they had fat tailed scorpions for sale. I was concernd and when I asked the employes what other deadly scorpions they had, they said that they also had the most venomous scorpion for sale, the death stalker. Has anybody else seen pet stores sell dangrous scorpions or anything else that they shouldn't? The thing that concerned me the most is that they were out on the display shelf with all the other scorpions like the emperor scorpion, which means anybody who doesnt know a harmless species of scorpion from a deadly one could easily make a mistake and buy one of the deadly ones. I live in Utah and a mistake here would probably be a fatal one since utah doesn't carry the proper antivenoms. I think some pet stores are iressponsible and should think about what they are selling before they decide to put it on display. I would hate to see somebody buy one of those scorpions and die as a result, we can't keep venomous snakes in Utah and I would hate to see animals like scorpions and other arachnids baned

Did the employee with whom you spoke express any sort of reservations about selling the scorpions, or did he say they were selective about the customers who could buy them? General pet stores probably shouldn't be too lax in selling highly potent inverts like that, but then again, there are some reptile specialty stores that sell venomous snakes as well. Should venomous snake sales be restricted to only the internet and venomous shows? Neither of which are exactly ideal conditions to determine someone's experience levels...

I've seen lion fish for sale in my pet stores' salt water sections. Should they be disallowed to sell these as well?

I'm just trying to play devil's advocate a little here. If you think pet stores shouldn't be allowed to sell potentially dangerous inverts, and I believe that idea is probably warranted 99% of the time, when is it appropriate to sell these animals?

When one can buy a King Cobra, or Black Mamba with only requirement being your credit card be valid, then a deathstalker suddenly doesn't seem too bad.
Should they know the capabilites of the prespective owner--absolutely- do they no more then someone buying a Rottweiler--another animal that required a degree of attention few want to provide--are people " qualified " to own, propabaly not, can they learn of course--will they take the time to, only in a few circumstances or when forced to. So what do you suggest, a written and practical test for owning a scorpion--not likely to happen. Should there be--another question.
Barry

Of course, to put things in perspective a little, anyone with 4 bucks or so and a container can buy a gallon of gas, at an automated pump. A gallon of gas and a match has been used on several occasions, each of which killed more people in ten minutes than all of the deaths from exotic snakes and scorpions in the U.S. in the last hundred years combinded...

You could also walk out into traffic for free. No background check required.

A local store in Richmond sells some very hot scorpions. There is a warning sticker on the cages that the venom can have medically significant consequences. The shelving the tanks are on locks so that a key is necessary to access those tanks.
There is another store in Chesterfield county, which does not allow the sale / possession of venomous. It is owned by a high school biology teacher. He sells scorpions with the notice that they are for educational use only. He has also sold crocodilians, crotalids, native species, all of which are forbidden. For 4+ years I contacted the county authorities and state game and fisheries with copies of his ads for these animals. I was always told that an investigation was ongoing to build evidence. I haven't seen anything indicating that any action has been taken.
(got a bit off topic, sorry)
Andy

The employe that I talked talked to did not seem the least bit concerned. The containers them selves did not have any markings on them to show that the scorpions were a highly venomous species and they were stacked with all of the other harmless species of scorpions.

Sounds like another killer bee mishap waiting to happen. I will probably piss off a few folks here. I love animals including reptiles. I am fascinated with Rattlesnakes as I have been posting here for quite a while. My thought is that any sale of exotic sales should be restricted. Reason being is that most of the bad press you here with animals is incidents with irresponsible and uneducated keepers. Too mant folks keeping potentialy dangerous animals beacuse they think it is cool. I have relocated several snakes here in Arizona. I RARELY handle them by hand. In the relocation proscess it just isnt nessessary. I dont do it to be cool. I reallize many there are many hobbiest out there.. Thats cool. But there are many idiots out there too... Here in Az. I have to posess a Wildlife Services Liscense just to relocate. It is free but,,, you have to present valid knowledge to get one. MY biggest fear about exotic Arachnids and Scorpions is inner breading of a escapee. Dont know if it would happen or not. Shelby

Very well put Larry. I couldn't agree with you more. But, it does concern me as I recently got a call from a lady to take an anaconda that she could no longer care for. While I was there to get the snake, she also wanted to turn over a corn snake, 4 tarantulas and 2 scorpions. One of the scorpions was a death stalker. I asked her what she knew about the toxicity of the scorpion and she just said that she heard it was pretty bad and that it shouldn't be handled. It seems to be a lot easier to buy deadly animals over the last few years thanks to the internet. So, as more opportunties are available for knowledgable, responsible keepers to purchase these animals, it also creates opportunities for the idiots to do the same. These unfit owners will be the reason more legislation will be passed in the future. I don't know what the answer is but maybe if the breeders/dealers could ask some simple questions about the buyers knowledge of the animal instead of pushing to make a sale it could change someones mind about buying something "really cool that none of their friends have!"